Steering mechanism



5. T. NELSON. STEERING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILI-2l? MAR. l0, 192i.

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6. T. NELSON.

STEERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.10, 1921.

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Speciivcatio'n of Letters Patent. Patented Fume 20, i922.

' Application mea march 1o, 1921. serial no. 451,375.

To all whom t may concern: Y

Be it known that l, GUSTAF T. NELSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Beaumont, in the county ofJelierson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering Mech anism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machine ele-` ments and more mitting devices.

Briely Vstated an important aim of this invention is to provide novel means whereby the engine of a motor vehicle may be used as a source of power for propelling a pontoon or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provideA simple means whereeby a motor veicle may be mounted upon a pontoon so particularly to power transthat the power transmitted to the rear wheel maybe utilized for rotating the propeller of the pontoon.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application aims also to provide novel means whereby the steering apparatus and more particularly the front wheels of the vehicle may be connected to the steeringapparatus of the pontoon so that the vehicle operator may remain in his seat and exercise complete control over the pontoon.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during .the course of the following description.

Tn the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in` which like numerals are employed to designate like Figurev l is a side elevation of a motor vehicle mounted upon a pontoon embodied in the invention, parts of the pontoon being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the pontoon,

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view lthrough the rear portion of the pontoon, the view illustrating the power transmitting means of the same,

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line P-4 of Figure l, the view illustratin the steering means.

Figure 5 is a etail sectional view through a run-way embodied in the invention.

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of the run-way.

Figures 7 -and 8 are detail sectional views through the pontoon, the views illustrating a slightly modlfied form of the invention.

ln the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown several preferred embodiments of the invention, the numeral 10 generall designates ,the pontoon which is provide with a'hydro-plane or flat bottom which as is well known skids along the surface of the water when the pontoon attains a high velocity.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application resides in providing means whereby the power of the engine of the vehicle 12 may be eiliciently transmitted to the propeller 13 of the pontoon so that the vehicle may be mounted on the deck of the pontoon and the engine of the same set -into operation so as to propel the pontoon. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a propeller shaft 15 is mounted within the pontoon and has its forward end provided with a i-nion 16 which meshes with a similar pinion 17 mounted on a cross shaft 18. The cross shaft 18 which is rotatably supported by` bearings 19 is provided with power transmittin wheels 20 about which belts 21 are traine The belts 21 which are continuous are also trained about idlers 22 which may be adjusted for tightening the belts when necessary. The power from the vehicle engine is of course transmitted to the rear wheel 23 and as illustrated in Figure 1, these rear wheels are supported by the wheels 20 and 22 which are arranged adjacent each other. The forward portion of the shaft 15 is .supported by an 'L-shaped bracket 25 which is connected to the cross vshaft 18.'

The front wheels 30 ot the vehicle are adapted to be mounted upon shoes 31 having depending spindles passing through brackets 32 and mounted on bearings secured to the bottom 33 of the pontoon. The spindles of the shoes 31 are of course rotatable within the brackets 32 so that when the steering wheel 34 of the vehicle is rotated,the front wheels 30 will be permitted to turn either to the right or to the left.

The shoes 31 upon which the front wheels 30 are mounted are provided with inwardly extending arms 35 to which rearwardly extending links 36 are pivotally connected. With reference to Figure 2 it will be observed that the rear portions of the links 36 4ets'39 and is adapted to be moved either to ghe right or to the'left for directing the ponoou.

en it is desired to mount the vehicle on the pontoon as illustrated in Figure l, a pair of run-ways 40 may be brought into operation and the tree ends of the same may be rested upon the shore of the river or upon a wharf or other landing. Suitable anchoring devices 41 are carried by the free end of the run-way. and are adapted to be imbedded in the ound so as to hold the run-ways securely Ev position while the vehicle is being run onto the pontoon. rlhe forward portio s ofthe run-ways are rotatabl supported by pairs of trunnions 42 whic Yare pivotally connected to standards 43. After the vehicle is run onto the pontoon, the runways 40 may be dised with the land- Aing, or bank, etc., and permitted to rest upon the deck of the pontoon. ln this manner the run-ways may be. instantly 'brought into operation.

en the vehicle has been positioned as illustrated in Figure l, iront and rear brackets 45 may be engaged with the front and rear ortions of the vehicle so as to hold the vehic e securely in position and prevent the same trom runnin od the pontoon. 'lhe lower portions of -t e rods 45 are pivotally secured 'to the pontoon by means of attachinmembers 47.

ith reference to the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be observed that an automobile may be conveniently mounted on the pontoon ormin the subject matter of this application and the engine of the e 'y by means of the construction set forth be connected to the propeller 13 of the pontoon. 'lhe operator of the vehicle may remain in his seat and exercise complete control over the pontoon.l en desired, the direction ot travel ofthe pontooumay be chad by throwing the transmission of the vehicle into reverse As illustrated in lgures l and 3, the rear ortion of the bottom 33V curves upwardly as indicated at 60 so as to form a churning space within which thepropeller 13 is arranged. lBy reason of inclming the stern portion of the bottom-33 upwardly the propeller ma be located comparatively near the surface o the water. By reason of this constructlon the propeller is permitted to operate in extremely shallow water. lt will be noted that the keel 61 extends below the plane ot the propeller so as to constitute a guard for the same, whereby the propeller is prevented from striking rocks or other submer obstacles.

ln the to of the invention illustrated in Figure 7 the arcuate shoes designated by the numeral 31 are seated :inv recesses in the deck of the pontoon. rlhe upper ends of the shoes 31 are flush with the surface of the deck so that the Wheels may freely ride into the shoes.

I ln the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 8 it will be observed that the wheels A20 and 22 may be also imbedded in the As particularly illustrated in Figure 4 the shoes 31 are arranged outwardly of *the planes of the spindles and the spindles are arranged approximately in the planes of the king bolts of the front wheel. 'As is well known the wheels of the vehicle upon being turned eitherto the right or to the left turn about the axes of the king bolts and not about an axis passing through the wheels. Therefore, the shoes 31 are arranged outwardly of the spindles.

Having thus fully described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isi. A pontoon' comprising a hull, bearings carried thereby, vertlcally arranged spindles rotatably mounted on said bearings, horizontal arms connected intermediate their ends to the upper portions of said spindles and extended beyond the sides of the same 'lor substantial distances, shoes carried by the outer ends of said arms at points spaced outwardly of the vplanes of said spindles, said shoes being adapted to be engaged by the front wheels of the motor vehicle, whereby the king bolts 'of the front wheels are disposed in alignment with said spindles.

2. A. pontoon comprising a hull, bearings carried by the hull, vertical spindles rotatably carried by said bearings, horizontal arms connected to said spindles and extending beyond the sides of the same for substantial distances, shoes carried by the outer ends of said arms at points spaced outwardly of said spindles, said shoes being adapted to be engaged by the front wheels of the motor vehicle, whereby the king bolts of the front wheels of the vehicle are disposed in alignment with said spindles, and brackets rotatably receiving said spindles.

GUSTAF THEODR NELSUN. 

